FACTBOX-Mines and plants hurt by low prices, high costs
Dec 19 (Reuters) - The global financial crisis and sharp falls in metals prices have forced several companies to abandon or put on hold their plans to bring new mines onstream.
Some existing producers also have shut down or curtailed output at mines and plants as high costs and low prices bite.
Below are details of major projects and facilities affected in recent months, as well as other related news.
Dec 19 - Australia's Oz Minerals Ltd (OZL.AX) to suspend operations at its Avebury nickel mine and slash 189 jobs.
Dec 17 - Anglo American Plc (AAL.L) to cut 2009 capital spending by more than half. Expansion of Los Bronces copper mine to be delayed by eight months. [ID:nLG223727]
Dec 17 - Century Aluminum Co (CENX.O) says will begin immediately to curtail one potline at Ravenswood, West Virginia aluminium smelter. [nN17345102]
Dec 17 - Alberta Star Development (ASX.V) says plans to delay its 2009 exploration programme.
Dec 16 - Penoles (PENOLES.MX) may delay a planned 48 percent expansion of its main zinc refinery. [ID:nN16257407]
Dec 16 - Congo has slashed copper output targets for the next three months by 30-40 percent and halved 2009 cobalt output projection. [ID:nLG646678]
Dec 16 - Bosnia's only aluminium smelter Aluminij Mostar will cut output in 2009 by 25 percent. Cutback announced late Nov, but no details given at that time. [ID:nLG375822]
Dec 16 - Jamaica's Windalco Bauxite Co will cut production by 35 percent. [ID:nN16271002]
Dec 15 - Teck Cominco Ltd (TCKb.TO) says will temporarily shut its Pend Oreille zinc mine. [ID:nBNG91937]
Dec 15 - Nyrstar (NYR.BR) to cut output at Clarksville zinc refinery in the United States by about 40 percent. [ID:nLF269312]
Dec 15 - Belvedere Resources (BEL.V) says has suspended all production at its Hitura and Sarkiniemi nickel mines.
Dec 15 - Strait Gold Crop (SRD.V) says has terminated its options on two Peru mining projects. [ID:nN15458770]
Dec 15 - OM Holdings Ltd (OMH.AX) to slash manganese production in Australia by nearly 30 percent next year. [ID:nSYD283355] Continued...
